The National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan at the Human Rights House began its work “Implementation of the Republic of Uzbekistan's international obligations in the field of children's rights and national mechanisms for fulfilling these obligations” topic a two-day seminar dedicated to the discussion of measures aimed at the implementation of Uzbekistan's international obligations in the field of children's rights.
The event was organized by the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, UNICEF's office in Uzbekistan and the Regional Office for Central Asia of the OHCHR.
According to Akmal Saidov, the director of the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan, today, children under the age of 18 make up 13 million, nearly 35 percent of the total population. In this sense, the issue of ensuring children's rights is of principal importance for Uzbekistan.
Currently, the issue of Uzbekistan's accession to the Third Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure is being studied at the expert level. Preparations are being made for the ratification of this document by the parliament of our country.
According to Mavluda Khodjaeva, Uzbekistan has joined more than 80 international treaties over the past period. Uzbekistan is one of the states that give significant importance to the strict compliance with international obligations, protecting children's rights. National reports on the performance of these obligations have been continuously presented to relevant committees of the UN and other international organizations.
According to Regina Castillo, head of UNICEF's office in Uzbekistan, the role of the parliament consists in ensuring that the country's legislative base and policies are in compliance with obligations under international human rights treaties such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Parliamentary control in legislation, budget, and protection areas creates conditions for protecting and promoting children's rights.
Uzbekistan regularly presents reports on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. So far, the Republic of Uzbekistan has submitted 5 periodic reports to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on the implementation of the Convention.
It is worth noting that the chambers of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan are strengthening the legal basis by implementing international standards related to children's rights into national legislation, improving existing laws, and adopting new ones. In particular, the adoption of the laws “On the protection of children from all forms of violence” on November 14, 2024, and “On the Representative for Children's Rights (Children's Ombudsman) of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan” on February 29, 2024, are clear examples of this.
Experts speaking at the event focused on the firm, coherent, and continuous process of reforms in the field of children's rights in the New Uzbekistan. Effective efforts in this direction are widely supported at the national, regional, and international levels.
